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Jacob Peterson
Education
Ph.D. Student, Quantitative Ecology
Purdue University
Advisor: Dr. Pat Zollner
West Lafayette, IN
2021 - 2019
- Dissertation: Developing an agent-based model to estimate the effectiveness of chronic wasting disease management methods in white-tailed deer
- Graduate Teaching/Research Assistant
- Began coursework for a secondary M.Sc. in Applied Statistics
M.Sc., Natural Resources Ecology and Management
Oklahoma State University
Advisors: Dr’s. Julia Earl & Sam Fuhlendorf
Stillwater, OK
2018 - 2016
- Thesis: Examined the effects of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and anthropogenic structures on the long-distance movements of lesser prairie-chickens (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus)
- Graduate Research Assistant
B.S., Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO
2015 - 2012
- Concentration: Wildlife Biology
- Minor: Spatial Information Management (SIM)
GRE Scores
N/A
N/A
2015
- Quantitative Reasoning: 157
- Verbal Reasoning: 156
- Analytical Writing: 4.0
Research Experience
Research Assistant
Zollner Lab
Purdue University
2019
- Create and parameterize an agent-based model to simulate the distribution and movement of white-tailed deer.
- Use this model to model chronic wasting disease spread in the population and discover what control methods may stop or slow the disease expansion.
- Machine learning methods such as random forests and decision trees will be utilized to draw conclusions from the simulation results.
Research Assistant
Fuhlendorf and Earl Labs
Oklahoma State University
2018 - 2016
- Created an algorithm in R to separate long-distance movement tracts from home range movements using GPS locations of 350 individual lesser prarie-chickens.
- Utilized resource selection function’s (mixed-model logistic regression), semi-variogram-based movement models, and a cumulative distribution function-based method to estimate selection-avoidance-neutral trends in response to features in the landscape.
- This information was used to inform models of connectivity between LPC populations and allow for the management of gene flow and dispersal in a fragmented landscape.
Human Dimensions Technician
Supervisor: Dr. Stacy Lischka
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
2015 - 2012
- Projects: Examining angler satisfaction in Colorado, assessing motivations of Colorado big game hunters, black bear exploitation of urban environments, assessing motivations of Colorado waterfowl hunters, examine the outdoor oriented values of elementary students using an Outdoor Wilderness Lab, track the effect of implementing a novice hunter program in Colorado
- Worked on a variety of projects to create summary reports, literature reviews, analyze data from multiple surveys, database design and management, spatial analysis, data entry
My research experience has allowed me to develop and hone my skills in programming, data management, statistics, GIS that will be transferable to any field.
NSF - Research Experience for Undergraduates Fellow
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology:
Reuman Lab
University of Kansas
2015
- Used SQL and R to data mine a 150 year-old fish stomach database to create a food web for the North Atlantic Ocean and test for correlation in these interspecific relationships with meta-population synchrony.
GIS & Human Dimensions Independent Study
Supervisor’s: Dr’s. Stacy Lischka and Yu Wei
Colorado Parks and Wildlife & Colorado State University
2015
- Worked to develop a method to spatially model and predict human attitudes and tolerance to black bears using survey response data.
- Experience using SQL to interface with a database and Python & R to script a spatially-explicit model.
Predictive Model for Archeological Sites Affected by Flood Damage
SIM Minor Capstone Project
Colorado State University
2014
- Designed a predictive model to locate prehistoric and historic cultural sites in the Eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado using ArcGIS and python scripts.
- Created for National Forest Service archeologists.
- This initial model was designed to be scalable in order to locate cultural sites in a variety of terrains.
Field Experience
Field Technician - White-tailed Deer Capture
Missouri Department of Conservation
Supervisor: Jon McRoberts
Rea, MO
2016 - 2015
- Captured, measured, and collared adult deer using Clover traps and rocket nets. VITs were inserted in does for neonate capture. Used telemetry and GPS to locate dropped collars and find mortalities.
- Neonates were captured and collared using GPS locations retrieved from collars and monitoring VIT and doe collar VHF frequencies.
- All collared deer were monitored for mortality using Iridium GPS network or VHF signals.
My field experience includes working alone and as a small team in difficult terrain in a large range of weather conditions. I have used a multiple models of Garmin and Trimble GPS’s and VHF reciever systems.
Field Technician - Mule Deer Neonate Capture
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Supervisor: Mark Peterson
Piceance State Wildlife Area, CO
2014
- Used telemetry and GPS to locate does and monitor for birth timing. Captured, measured, and collared mule deer neonates. Monitored collared fawns for mortality signals and investigated the cause of death.
Teaching Experience
I have a passion for teaching those that traditionally would consider themselves non-programmers how scripting and programming can make them more efficient at their jobs. I am also a advocate for free and open source options that allow fully reproducable science.
Vertebrate Population Dynamics
Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources
West Lafayette, IN
2019
- TA
- Covered introduction to statistics in R, distance sampling using Program Distance and mark-recapture analysis with Program MARK
- Senior-level undergraduate course
Big Data in Forest Research - Guest Lecture
Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources
West Lafayette, IN
2019
- Guest lecture on using R as a GIS.
- Covered an introduction to the
tidyverse, the differences between packagesspandsf, using packageraster, and mapping withggplotandtmap. - Graduate level course
Posters & Talks
Effects of Anthropogenic Features and Landcover on the Long-Distance Movements of Lesser Prairie-Chickens
Quantitative Ecology Working Group at Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources
West Lafayette, IN
N/A
- Authors: Peterson, J., J. Earl, S. Fuhlendorf, D. Elmore, A. M. Tanner, D. Haukos, S. Carleton
Landscape factors affecting large-scale population connectivity in a grassland obligate grouse species
Indiana State Chapter of The Wildlife Society
Indianapolis, IN
N/A
- Authors: Peterson, J., J. Earl, S. Fuhlendorf, D. Elmore, A. M. Tanner, D. Haukos, S. Carleton
An astronomical event reveals the role of landscapes as thermal moderators.
Ecological Society of America
New Orleans, LA
N/A
- Authors: Tanner, E. P., S. D. Fuhlendorf, J. A. Polo, and J. M. Peterson
Effects of Anthropogenic Structures on the Long-Distance Movements of Lesser Prairie-Chickens
Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference
Milwaukee, WI
N/A
- Authors: Peterson, J., J. Earl, S. Fuhlendorf, D. Elmore, A. M. Tanner, D. Haukos, S. Carleton
Engaging stakeholders in chronic wasting disease management through agent-based models
Midwest Deer and Wild Turkey Study Group Meeting
Nashville, IN
N/A
- Authors: Peterson, J. M., P. A. Zollner, J. Caudell
- Invited Talk
Response of Lesser Prairie-Chickens to Anthropogenic Structures During Long-Distance Movements
International Association for Landscape Ecology - North America
Chicago, IL
N/A
- Authors: Peterson, J., J. Earl, S. Fuhlendorf, D. Elmore, A. M. Tanner, D. Haukos, S. Carleton
- Invited Symposium on Behavioral Landscape Ecology
Publications
Estimating response distances of lesser prairie-chickens to anthropogenic features during long-distance movements
Ecosphere
N/A
2019
- Authors: Peterson, J., J. Earl, S. Fuhlendorf, D. Elmore, A. M. Tanner, D. Haukos, S. Carleton
- In Review
An astronomical event reveals the role of landscapes as thermal moderators
N/A
N/A
2019
- Authors: Tanner, E. P., S. D. Fuhlendorf, J. A. Polo, and J. M. Peterson
- In Review